We showcase five of the most rocking, stylish music festivals around the world.

Best Music Festivals - Exit Festival, Serbia

The biggest music festival in South Eastern Europe, the Exit Festival has been held since 2000 in the Serbian city of Novi Sad. It gets bigger every year and now attracts over 250,000 festival goers from all over the world and has some amazing headliners over the four day celebrations.

The festival began as an artistic protest against the oppressive Milosevic regime and has swiftly become one of Europe's largest and wildest events featuring only the best in rock, pop and electronic music.

This year’s lineup includes acts like the Beastie Boys, Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada, Lauren Hill and Roger Sanchez. Past acts have included Moloko, Massive Attack, Iggy and the Stooges, Brand New Heavies, Neneh Cherry, Timo Maas, White Stripes, Garbage, Fatboy Slim, Scissor Sisters, Franz Ferdinand, The Cardigans, Billy Idol and Goldie.

Other attractions include films, theatres and workshops. The festival has also kept its political stance, with a Free Your Mind Stage that encourages debate and discussion on topics like people trafficking, abuse, exploitation, gender issues, economic pressures, youth unemployment, substance abuse and migration.

Location

The historic Petrovaradin Fortress in the stunning ancient city of Novi Sad by the River Danube.

This year, catch the fest between 12th and 16th July 2007. Visit eng.exitfest.org

Flights to Serbia

The nearest airports to Novi Sad are Belgrade and Budapest. British Airways flies direct to Belgrade. Visit www.britishairways.com. For budget flights, Aer Lingus and easyJet both fly to Budapest, visit www.aerlingus.com or www.easyjet.com. For airport transfers or organised tours, visit www.vamostravel.com or www.eufest.com

Best Music Festivals - Benicàssim Festival, Spain

Valencia’s biggest party, Benicàssim is a summer beach festival on the stunning Costa Azahar. It’s been rocking Spain since 1995 and since then it’s become a firm favourite for music lovers who enjoy a hot climate and a cool summer vibe.

The music is eclectic, featuring indie pop and electronic dance – perfect for the festival’s climatic beach party on the last night that lasts past dawn. This year’s lineup includes the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, The Hives, Armand Van Helden, Bright Eyes, Herman Dune, Iggy and the Stooges, Klaxons, Kings of Leon, The Magic Numbers, Muse, The B-52s, The Horrors, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Damian Lazarus, Digitalism, Ellen Allien, OK Go!, The Rapture, Albert Hammond Jr, Amy Winehouse and lots more.

Other attractions include dance, fabulous fashion, contemporary art, theatre, short films, clothing, music and accessories markets and chill areas with giant screens. Plus, there’s a beautiful beach nearby for post-party hangover lazing.

Location

Benicassim is a picturesque beach town outside Castellon, between Valencia and Barcelona.

It all goes down this 19th to 22nd July 2007 – and don’t miss out on the after-party on the 23rd. Visit fiberfib.com

Flights to Valencia

Valencia Airport is just under an hour’s drive away. EasyJet and Ryanair fly there direct. Visit www.easyjet.com or www.ryanair.com

Best Music Festivals - Glastonbury, UK

Hedonistic, ceremonial and surreal, Glastonbury is the biggest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world, with a massive 150,000 capacity.

It’s hard to believe that farmer Michael Eavis founded the festival for friends and fellow-hippies in 1970, reportedly charging an entrance fee of £1, including free milk from the farm.

The festival is like an insane tented city, with a friendly vibe ranging between mellow and mad. Besides the music and general mayhem, you can take in performances at the famous Green Fields, or marvel in the infamous Stone Circle’s mysticism.

Expect music of every genre, from Dance to Jazz to Acoustic to alternative. Huge headliners take to the Pyramid Stage and of course the Dance Village is a must, but you’ll also find lots of smaller or alternative acts at over 30 venues, besides the Other Stage, Jazz World, Left Field, Avalon, and the Acoustic Stage.

Past Acts have included Peter Gabriel, New Order, Van Morrison, UB40, Elvis Costello, Simply Red, Pixies, Sinead O’Connor, Primal Scream, Lenny Kravitz, Velvet Underground, Bjork, Manic St Preachers, The Prodigy, Hole, Skunk Anansie and the Flaming Lips, just to name a few.
Favourites Oasis, Paul McCartney, Muse, Coldplay, David Bowie and The White Stripes have all topped the bill in recent years.

Other attractions include artists, street performance, theatre groups, circus acts, cabaret, fringe performance shows, markets, food stalls. The festival also donates huge sums to various charities like Greenpeace and Oxfam every year.

Location

Worthy Farm, Pilton. The 900 acres in the Vale of Avalon are steeped in symbolism and mythology, the site where King Arthur may be buried and according to legend a place where energy ley lines converge.

Be part of the spectacle from 22 June to 24 June 2007. Visit www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Travel to Glastonbury

First Great Western Trains will provide transport from the Festival Interchange station at Castle Cary (the nearest to the festival site). Expect crowds and book in advance to avoid missing out. Visit www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Best Music Festivals - The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, California, USA

The three-day Californian alternative, rock, hip hop and electronica extravaganza has built up a huge following since its inception in 1999, as well as a reputation for bizarre happenings and a wild vibe.

The April festival in the desert is hot (literally!) and packed with celebrities, and the lineups are ridiculously massive. This year, performers included Bjork, Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, Faithless, Digitalism, Amy Winehouse, Noisettes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tiesto, Travis, Kings of Leon, the Rapture, Fountains of Wayne, the Fratellis, Paul van Dyk, Crowded House, Kaiser Chiefs, Damien Rice, Placebo, Lily Allen, Spank Rock, the Feeling, the Kooks, Klaxons and Mika just to name a few!

Rage Against the Machine's legendary reunited performance brought in a huge 100,000-strong crowd for them alone, and Scarlett Johansson dueted with the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Other attractions include chaotic sculptures and installation art.

Location

The EMPIRE POLO FIELD, in the Coachella valley desert, 23 miles from Palm Springs International airport.

Visit www.coachella.com

Flights to Los Angeles

Coachella is only 23 miles from Palm Springs International Airport, but you can’t get a direct flight there from the UK. Los Angeles International Airport is the next best thing at roughly 140 miles away, or you could get a connecting flight. Aer Lingus and FlyBMI fly direct to Los Angeles, visit www.aerlingus.com or www.flybmi.com. American Airways also flies to Los Angeles and organises budget connecting flights. Visit www.americanairlines.co.uk

Best Music Festivals - Big Day Out, Australia

Australia’s biggest rock and electronic festival takes place between January and February each year at several locations, and it’s perfect for music lovers who like a shot of adventure or beach action on the side.

It’s grown from strength to strength since Nirvana and the Violent Femmes first rocked the festival in 1992. This year’s headliners included the likes of Tool, Muse, Jet, Violent Femmes, Lily Allen, Lupe Fiasco, The Streets, Eskimo Joe, Shapeshifter, The Killers, Kasabian, Crystal Method DJs, Spank Rock, The Vines, Evermore, Tatoo, My Chemical Romance and lots more, as well as hot local acts in each location.

Don’t miss the Boiler Room - a huge circus-style dance electronica tent – or the entertainment stage

Location

A range of stadium locations across Australia and New Zealand, including Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland and the Gold Coast.

Visit www.bigdayout.com

Flights to Australia

Quantas, Australia’s national airline, flies to Sydney and Melbourne direct from the UK, and you can arrange connecting flights from there. Visit www.qantas.com.au